Launcher arm retarding mechanism



Ci. 4, 1966 G. N ET AL 3,276,32@

LAUNCHER ARM RETARDING MECHANISM Original Filed May 5, 1955 4 Sheets$'neet l IIII lllllh Oct. 4, 1966 KANE ET AL LAUNCHER ARM RETARDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 5. 1955 0. 4, 1966 K ET AL LAUNCHER ARM RETARDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 5, 1955 vmQN swam \vmaw \vmow mmQN QQQQN @QQN QQN mmsw Raw wmsw @ow $8M MMDN Get. 4, 1966 G. A. KANE". ET AL,

LAUNCHER ARM RETARDING MECHANISM 3,276,320 LAUNCHER ARM RETARDING MECHANISM Garold A. Kane, Arthur G. Blomquist, Harrison Randolph, John S. Scheurich, and Palmer G. Wermager, Minneapolis, Minn., Fred H. Allen and Robert E. Carlberg, Washington, D.C., Ferdinand J. Schiavi, Falls Church, Va, and Arthur J. Dohm, Chisago City, and Milton C. Neuman, Champlin, Minn., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Original application May 5, 1955, Ser. No. 506,392, now Patent No. 3,228,293, dated Jan. 11, 1966. Divided and this application Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 415,558 1 Claim. (Cl. 891.815)

This application is a division of the co-pending application of Garold A. Kane et 3.1., Serial No. 506,392, now Patent No. 3,228,293, for Apparatus for Handling Missiles.

This invention relates to a movement retarding mechanism and, more particularly, to a hydraulic retarding mechanism for retarding the oscillatable movement of a launcher arm in a missile handling device.

It is frequently required that a launcher arm in a missile handling system be either rotatable or oscillatable in order to direct a missile mounted on the launcher arm toward a target. When such a movable launcher arm is provided in a missile handling system, it is also necessary that a retarding means be provided for stopping the launcher arm in the event that it should overspeed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a missile-handling device including a launcher comprising an oscillatable arm on which a missile is carried, and means for retarding the movement of said arm should it overspeed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a missile-handling device including a launcher comprising a member which is rotatable for training, together with means for retarding the rotation of said member should it overspeed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a missilehandling device including a launcher having an arm oscillatable for elevation and movable to a missilereceiving position, together with a buifer mechanism arranged to be engaged by said arm in its movement, should it overrun said receiving position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view mainly in side elevation with some parts broken away and others shown in vertical section showing the launching mechanism and other parts including the Blast Door;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a portion of the Butler for the Launcher Arm;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of another port-ion of the Buffer Mechanism for the Launcher Arm;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing further parts of the Buffer for the Launcher Arm. The parts illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 4 are schematically shown.

The missile-handling device of this invention comprises as the principal elements thereof a frame, a pair of spaced hoists each having a rail along which missiles are moved, a pair of stowage mechanisms for missiles, called Ready Service Rings, and two Transfer Mechanisms for moving missiles from said Ready Service Rings t0 and from said hoists respectively, as well as a Launcher comprising a member rotatable for training and carrying a pair of spaced launcher arms oscillatable for elevation, each of said arms having a rail along which a missile is moved, said rails cooperating respectively with said hoist rails for receiving a missle. The host moves the mssile upwardly along the hoist rail and onto the rail of the launcher arm.

The launcher shown in FIG. 1 comprises a column 1901 carried on a base frame 1902. Said frame is supported on brackets 1904 secured to the structure of the main deck 1906. Column 1 has therein a rotatable casing on which is mounted a housing 1912. A member 1914 projects at opposite sides of housing 1912 on which are mounted the launcher arms 1915. Each launcher arm has a rectilinear rail 1915a at one side thereof which is similar in cross section to the hoist rail. Each launcher arm rail can be positioned in vertical alinement with its respective hoist rail. The housing 1912 can be rotated about the central axis of column 1901 for training the missile and the launcher arms 1915 can be oscillated with member 1914 for elevation. The launcher arms 1915 may overspeed under certain conditions and provision is made for automatically retarding said overspeeding.

The training housing 1912 may also overspeed at times and provision is made for automatically retarding such overspeeding.

The launcher column portion 1912 has a trunnion member or tube at either side to which the launcher arms 1915 are secured. A buifer mechanism is provided adapted to be engaged by a member carried by the launcher arm to resist movement of the launcher arm if the same should over-travel in coming to its vertical position in alignment with the hoist.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 2 to 4, a cross section of a portion of the trunnion tube 1914 is shown. A ring 2060 extends about and is oscillatable on tube 1914 and has a radially projecting arm 2060a. Said arm has spaced radially extending surfaces 2060b and 20600. Said trunnion tube 1914 has circumferentially spaced blocks 2061 and 2062 having radially extending surfaces 2061a and 2062a. As tube 1914 oscillates about its central axis, the surfaces 2061a and 2062a will engage respectively the surfaces 2060c and 206% depending on the direction of rotation of tube 1914. Arm 2060a has a substantially ball-like portion 2060:! which is disposed between the ends of plungers 2064 and 2065. Plungers 2064 and 2065 form parts of pistons 2064a and 2065a which are preferably cylindrical in form and are movable respectively in chambers 2066a and 2067a in blocks 2066 and 2067 respectively. Member 2064a has a passage 2064b extending longitudinally thereof and communicating at one end with a chamber 20640 in which is disposed a spring pressed check valve 2068 which is spring pressed to position to close the inner end of passage 2064b. Valve 2068 has a central bore extending from one end and a plurality of openings 2068a extend from the inner end of said bore to the periphery of said valve. The other end of passage 2064b opens into chamber 2066a. A passage 2064d extends from passage 2064b to a chamber 2064s in member 2064a. A valve 2070 is movable in chamber. 20642, the same having spaced lands and said valve is urged to one end of said chamber by a coiled compression spring 2071 engaging one end of said valve and engaging the head of rod 2072, which head engages the opposite end of chamber 2064e, said spring 2071 surrounding rod 2072. The outer land of valve 2070 has a passage 2070a extending from one end to the other thereof. A passage 2064] of smaller diameter than chamber 2064e extends from the inner end of said chamber to chamber 2066a. Passage 206'4g extends from chamber 2064c to an annular chamber 2064h which extends longitudinally of and surrounds a cylindrical memer 2074 which extends from end to end of chamber .3 2066a. Member 2074 has a reduced portion 207411 at one end extending along the passage 206411 and tapering to the full diameter of member 2074 at substantially its mid-point. A second cylindrical member 2075 extends from end to end of chamber 206611 above member 2074, the same extending through an annular chamber 20641", which latter chamber is connected to chamber 206411 by a passage 2064i. Packing material 2076 is shown in block 2066 about plunger 2064. A test plug 2078 is shown in one side of block 2066. Member 2075 has a reduced portion 2075a which extends from substantially its longitudinal mid-point and which tapers to full diameter adjacent one end thereof. A passage 2064k extends from chamber 206611 to the outer side of block 2066 and is normally closed by a valve 2077. A conduit 2066b extends from passage 2064k to chamber 208011 in a block 2080. A conduit 2066c extends from the opposite end of chamber 206611 to a passage or chamber 208211 in a block 2082, said passage communicating with an accumulator 2083 which will be charged with fluid under pressure of 100 pounds per square inch.

Block 2067 contains parts identical with those described in connection with block 2066 and will be designated by the same letters of reference. These parts include a cylindrical member 2085 similar to member 2075 and a cylindrical member 2086 similar to member 2074. A conduit 2065b extends longitudinally of piston 2065a and communicates at one end with a chamber 2065c in said piston. Said passage is normally closed by a check valve 2087 in chamber 20650, which valve is spring pressed to closed position. Valve 2087 has a central bore extending from one end and a plurality of openings 2087a extend from the inner end of said bore to the periphery of said valve. A passage 206511 extends from passage 2065b to a chamber 2065?. A valve 2088 is movable in chamber 2065c, the same having spaced lands, the outer one of which has a passage 2088a extending from end to end thereof. Valve 2088 is urged to one end of chamber 2065s by a coiled compression spring 2090 which at one of its ends engages valve 2088 and at its other end engages the head of a rod 2091, said spring surrounding rod 2091. Said head of rod 2091 engages the other end of chamber 2065c. Piston 2065a has an annular chamber 206511 of considerable length surrounding member 2086 and a passage 2065g extends from chamber 2065c to chamber 206511. Mem ber 2086 has a reduced portion 2086a extending along chamber 206511 which tapers to the full diameter of member 2086 at substantially the mid-point of the latter. An annular chamber 2065i surrounds member 2085 and is connected to chamber 206511 by a passage 2065i. ber 2085 has a reduced portion 2085a tapering in diameter from substantially the longitudinal center of said member to its inner end. Packing 2092 is shown extending about plunger 2065. A test plug 2094 is shown in one end of block 2067. A passage 2065k extends from one end of chamber 2067a to a conduit 2067b and is normally closed by a valve 2095. Conduit 2067b extends to a chamber 2080b in block 2080. A conduit 2065111 extends from the outer end of chamber 2067a to passage 2082a. A conduit 2082c extends from passage 2082a in block 2082 and is normally closed by a spring pressed check valve 2096. A conduit 208211 extends from a chamber 208211 in block 2082 and from a passage 209811 in a valve 2098 to tank. A valve 2098 is movable in chamber 2082b and is urged to one end of said chamber by a compression coiled spring 2099. Valve 2098 has a central passage 2098a extending longitudinally thereof with which communicates a transverse passage 2098b extending to the periphery of valve 2098 at either side thereof. A rod 2100 is connected to valve 2098, the same having a handle 2100a disposed without block 2082. Rod 21.00 can be moved outwardly by pulling on handle 210011 to move passage 2098b into register with passage 2082a to drain the accumulator 2083. A conduit 2083a extends from one end of accumulator 2083 to a nitrogen charge device Mem- 2102. Said device has a removable plug connection 210211 to a nitrogen supply. A conduit 2080c extends from a chamber 2080d to the brake used with the training mechanism. A conduit 2080c extends to a chamber 210411 in a sight glass 2104 and a conduit 2080f extends from chamber 210411 to the tops of chamber 2080d, 208011, 20805 and 2080b.

In operation, the accumulator 2083 will be charged to pounds per square inch. If desired, the accumulator can be drained to tank by moving valve 2098 by pulling out on handle 2100a. Fluid can then pass through passage 2098b and through conduit 2082117 to tank.

When the trunnion tube 1914 is rotated beyond the normal amount or beyond alinement with the hoist rail, one of the blocks 2061 or 2062 will engage one of the surfaces 2060c or 206011 respectively. Arm 2060a will then move with tube 1914. Chamber 2066a is charged with fluid from accumulator 2083 through conduit 2066c. When arm 2060a swings to the left, it will move plunger 2064 which will in turn move block 2064a. The fluid to the left of said block, as seen in FIG. 3, will be forced through the chamber about reduced portion 2075a and will pass into chamber 2064i, around member 20751: and through passage 2064 into the annular chamber 206411. Said fluid will then pass through the chamber about the reduced portion 2074a to the outer end of block 2064a. Said chambers about reduced portions 2074a and 2075a may be in the form of grooves extending longitudinally of members 2074 and 2075. As block 2064a moves to the left, as seen in FIG. 3, the fluid is throttled as said chamber about portion 207511 is reduced in area. The fluid also passes through passage 20645, between the lands of valve 2070 and through passage 206411 and passage 206411 to the right-hand end of block 2064a. The tapered chambers about the reduced portions 2074a and 20750, as stated, retard the movement of block 2064a and thus give a bufling effect. Valve 2070 is a metering valve. If there is quite a flow of fluid from passage 2064;, to passage 2064d and the pressure drop reduces the pressure to a point where the pressure in chamber 2064c plus the pressure of spring 2071 is less than the pressure in chamber 2066a applied to the left-hand end of valve 2070, said valve will be moved to the right and the flow of fluid through passage 2064g will be restricted. If the flow of fluid from passage 2064g to passage 206411 is such that the pressure drop is small, the pressure on the left-hand side of valve 2070 will be unable to move said valve and passage 206411 will be unrestricted. The metering valve will act to stabilize with a certain flow of fluid. The movement of arm 206011 is thus retarded and thus the movement of the trunnion tube 1914 is brought to a stop The check valves 2068 and 2087 operate after the buffer has operated and act to provide a passage to the inner sides of blocks 2064a and 2065a nearest arm 2060a.

When arm 2060a moves to the right, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation will be the same as already described when said arm moves to the left. As block 2065a is forced to the right by plunger 2065, the fluid will be forced through the chamber about reduced portion 2085a, through chamber 20651, through passage 2065 into annular chamber 206511. Said fluid will then pass into the chamber about reduced portion 208611 to the outer end of block 2065a.

Said reduced portions 2085a and 208611 may be in the form of tapered grooves. As block 2065a moves to the right, as seen in FIG. 4, the fluid is throttled as the area about portion 208511 is reduced in area. The fluid also passes through passage 2065g to between the lands of valve 2088 and through passage 2065d to the left-hand end of block 2065a. The movement of arm 2066a and of the launcher arm will thus be retarded. Valve 2088 is a metering valve and functions and operates just as valve 2070 already described. Switches IE17 and IE18 will indicate the position of arm 2060a.

Block 2080 is an air bleed valve block. Air can be discharged from the chambers 2080a, 2080b, 2080d and 2080g by moving the valves therein downwardly. Said air can then pass through passage 2080 and conduit 2080e to the main supply tank. The sight glass 2104 is provided so that the flow and condition of the oil or fluid may be observed. Air is sometimes trapped or mixed in the oil. This gives a foamy appearance. It can thus be observed when the fluid has been freed of air.

What is claimed is:

In a missile handling apparatus having an oscillatable arm, a member movable by said arm, and a hydraulic retarding means for retarding the oscillatable movement of said member and arm in either direction, the improvement comprising said hydraulic retarding means having two hydraulic cylinders pressurized with hydraulic fluid, a plunger slidably movable in each of said cylinders and With each of said plungers being movable in response to the movement of said member and arm, a passage system including tapered passages in each of said plungers for forcing the fluid from one side of said plungers to the other when said plungers are moved by said member and arm, a bypass passage in each of said plungers communicating with said passage system and extending to one side of said plungers, and a spring-biased metering valve mounted in each of said plungers for regulating the flow rate of the fluid between said passage system and said bypass passage, whereby the flow of fluid from one side of said plungers to the other will be stabilized at a certain rate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,391,965 1/1946 Hanna et al. 89-41 2,826,960 3/1958 Schiavi 891.7 3,106,132 9/1963 Biermann et al 89-1.7

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner. 

